Nadal Faces Simon In Indian Wells Fourth Round

Rafael Nadal will take on Gilles Simon in the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters this evening. The former is a three-time winner of the competition, having previously triumphed in 2007, 2009 and 2013 whilst the Frenchman`s best finish was back in 2012 when reaching the quarter-finals before being beaten by John Isner in three sets (3-6, 6-1, 7-5). Nadal is the competition`s third seed this year whilst Simon is seeded 13th.

The two men have faced off seven times in previous years, the Spaniard holding a 6-1 head-to-head record over tonight`s opponent. All these matches took place between the years of 2006 and 2014 with Simon`s sole victory coming on hard in the semi-final of the 2008 Madrid Masters. The now 30-year-old managed to come back from losing the opening set 6-3, to take the second 7-5 and the third on a tie-break. He would go on to lose to Andy Murray in the final in straight sets (6-4, 7-6).

These sets claimed by Simon over Nadal are just two of eight sets that have been decided by a 12th or 13th game. Both bet365 and Skybet have 7/4 on a tie-break occurring at any point during the match whilst the same two bookmakers have 4/1 on a tie-break appearing in the first set. Similarly, Coral has 7/2 on a tie-break being fought out in the second set.

In a similar vein, william hill have odds of 15/4 on the first set ending 7-5 to one of the two players whilst the price is 4/1 with the same bookmaker on this being the score in the second set.

Indeed, Nadal`s record against Simon means that it is he who is the favourite to progress through to the quarter-final of the competition, boylesports having the best price of 1/5 on the 65-time ATP champion seeing off his opponent. Simon is available at the best price of 9/2 (betway, ladbrokes, sportingbet, william hill). Bwin`s 19/2 says that the 6` player can record another 2-1 victory over the world number three whilst he is 20/1 (william hill) to once again lose the opener but still go on to take the match.

Of his six victories over Simon, Nadal has only twice won in straight sets. Despite this he is 4/7 (Numerous) to not drop a set in his triumph whilst he can also be backed at 7/2 (ladbrokes, William Hill) to take the game by two sets to one. Nadal is, however, yet to drop a set in this competition, receiving a bye into the second round before defeating both Igor Sijsling 6-4, 6-2 and Donald Young 6-4, 6-2. The Manacor-born star is 4/1 with Coral to pick up his third successive opening set by six games to four and he can be backed at 6/1 (boylesports) to grab the second set by six games to two for the third straight time in the competition.

Nadal has already scooped an ATP title this year, earning himself glory in the Buenos Aires Open when not losing a set. He has, however, failed to reach the semi-final in all of his other previous tournaments and will be looking to put that right in the Indian Wells Masters.

World number 13 Gilles Simon beat Malez Jaziri in three sets (6-3, 4-6, 6-2) in the second round of this competition before seeing off Michael Berrer of Germany 6-2, 7-5. The Switzerland resident has come up trumps in one of the five tournaments he has featured in this year (Open 13) but is 500/1 (boylesports) to lift the trophy here.

Go To bet365

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18/03/2015     © Frixo 2026